STS-92
Report # 04
Friday, October 13, 2000 ñ 7 a.m. CDT
Discoveryís astronauts were awakened this morning in preparation for
their rendezvous and docking to the International Space Station after an
extra hour of sleep to the sounds of ìGirls Just Want To Have Funî, by
Cindy Lauper.
Commander Brian Duffy, Pilot Pam Melroy and Mission Specialists Leroy
Chiao, Bill McArthur, Jeff Wisoff, Mike Lopez-Alegria and Koichi Wakata
began their day shortly after 5 a.m. Central time, preparing Shuttle
systems for their linkup to the new Station at about 12:46 p.m. Central
time.
As of about 6:45 this morning, the Shuttle trailed the station by about
650 statute miles and was closing in by about 300 miles with each orbit of
the Earth. The rate of closure will slow dramatically, however, as Duffy
and Melroy conduct a series of jet firings to place the Shuttle directly
below the Station late this morning for the final phase of its approach
for docking. The final major maneuver, called the Terminal Initiation
burn, will occur when Discovery reaches a point about eight nautical miles
directly behind the station.
As Discovery moves within about a half-mile of the station, Duffy will
take over manual control of the Shuttleís approach, flying the Shuttle
from controls in the aft cockpit. Discovery will arrive at a point about
600 feet directly below the station about 10:38 a.m. Central, and then
will begin a half-circle of the orbiting outpost. Discovery will pass
about 350 feet in front of the station and then move to a point about 250
feet directly above it about 11:05 a.m. Central.
Duffy will then begin to descend toward the station and, about 11:15 a.m.
Central, hold position at a point about 170 feet away. Duffy will
maintain that distance for almost one hour to allow the station to move
within range of Russian ground communications stations to monitor the
Shuttleís approach and docking. At 12:34 p.m., Duffy will hold position
again briefly at a point about 30 feet from the station to verify the
Shuttle and station docking mechanisms are precisely aligned. Docking is
expected about 12 minutes later with the Shuttle contacting the station at
a slow rate of about a tenth of a foot per second. At the time of docking,
the ISS and Atlantis will be flying over the Ukraine.
The Shuttleís KU band communications system remains inoperative as
engineers continue to review data regarding its sudden loss yesterday.
Although there is no conventional television available from Discovery, the
loss of the KU system has no impact to mission objectives.
Discovery is currently orbiting at an altitude of about 190 statute miles,
circling the Earth every 90 minutes.
The next mission status report will be issued about 8 p.m. this evening or
sooner if events warrant.